Jan. 14, 2010

ATHENS, Ohio - The Northern Illinois University wrestling team suffered a 29-7 setback to Ohio at the Convocation Center Thursday night in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams.

With five of the 10 matches decided by two points or less, NIU's contest with Ohio could have gone either way. Ohio (8-2, 1-0) got the jump on the Huskies early, winning the first six matches, with three of those decided by two points. Patrick McLemore (Hinckley, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) put up a fight at 141 against No. 13 Germane Lindsey of Ohio in the fifth match of the night.

McLemore jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first period scoring a take down and near fall of Lindsey. He extended his lead to 7-3 with a couple of escapes, however, a take down and near fall gave Lindsey an 8-7 advantage heading into the final period. Lindsey scored another takedown in the final period to seal the victory for the Bobcats.

Bryan Deutsch (Columbia City, Ind./Columbia City) gave the Huskies (6-4, 0-1) their first victory of the night, scoring a 3-2 decision over Clay Tucker at 157. Deutsch came out strong with a takedown in the first period. An escape in the second period gave the redshirt junior a 3-1 advantage heading into the third period.

Mason True (Arcadia, Ohio/Arcadia) posted the Huskies other win on the night, posting a major decision victory at 174. After wrestling to a 0-0 in the first period, True erupted with six points in the second period on an escape, takedown and near fall. He scored three more points in the third to defeat Steve Wilson, 9-0.

Freshman Zach Benzio (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville Area), who was facing No. 19 Nick Purdue at 184, turned in a solid performance. While he lost 5-3, Benzio wrestled tough tying the match, 3-3, in the second period before eventually falling in third period.

"Bryan Deustch and Mason True came out with some big wins," NIU head coach Dave Grant said. "I was pretty pleased with Zach Benzio, one of our young wrestlers. He wrestled pretty tough.

"They [Ohio] were a little more ready to wrestle that dual, but we have a big day ahead of us Saturday at Michigan State and we're excited to wrestle up there."

The Huskies are back in action Jan. 16 when the Huskies travel to East Lansing, Mich. to face Michigan State, Stanford and Findlay. The action starts at 9 a.m. CST.

Ohio 29, Northern Illinois 7
197: Erik Schuth (OU) Maj. dec. Scott Penny (NIU), 11-2
285: Andy Hartshorn (OU) dec. Dakota Greenhaw (NIU), 3-1
125: Gabriel Ramos (OU) dec. Izzy Montemayor (NIU), 10-8 (OT)
133: Quentin Keyes (OU) Maj. dec. Zach Taylor (NIU), 9-0
141: Germane Lindsey (OU) dec. Patrick McLemore (NIU), 10-8
149: Seth Morton (OU) dec. Dan Ruettiger (NIU), 8-3
157: Bryan Deutsch (NIU) dec. Clay Tucker (OU), 3-2
165: Kevin Christensen (OU) pin John Odeen (NIU), 5:52
174: Mason True (NIU) Maj. dec. Steve Wilson, 9-0
184: Nick Purdue (OU) dec. Zach Benzio (NIU), 5-3

-NIU-